Writing

Surprise! A Guest Post by Marsha Hubler

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Drum roll, please!  Yes, today is the beginning of “Guest Post Wednesday” here at Kelly F Barr.  I hope I will be able to bring inspiring and informational posts from some great bloggers and hope to be able to do so each and every Wednesday.  I am thrilled that Marsha Hubler has agreed to be my first Guest Poster.  I met Marsha last Spring at a one-day Writer’s Conference.

MyPictureforContact Page

Marsha Hubler

Author/Speaker

 When Marsha left Ashland, PA in 1964, she was headed for Bloomsburg State College, Bloomsburg, PA, and a teaching career four years later in the central Pennsylvania area. Marsha says, “Little did I know that one of my childhood dreams of writing books would become a reality beyond my wildest imagination.”

After graduating from college, she married Richard Hubler, also a 1964 graduate of Ashland Area High School. Eventually, they made their home near Middleburg, PA. They have been active members of Bible Baptist Church in Kreamer, PA, since 1972, where Marsha plays the organ and sings in a mixed quartet.

In her 40+ years of involvement with education, Marsha has earned her master’s degree from Bloomsburg and has co-founded two private schools, Kreamer Christian Academy, Kreamer, PA, and the Bethesda Prep School, Milton, PA, where she served as administrator in each. Since 1990 she has evaluated and tested hundreds of homeschoolers in her home where she lives with her husband and two dogs. She is a certified evaluator with three different homeschooling organizations. She speaks at writers’ conferences, parents’ and children’s events and schools.

Marsha’s “professional” writing career started in 1991. She has had numerous articles, short stories, and poems published in magazines and for greeting cards. In 2003 her first book was published. DRAW ME CLOSER, LORD is a 128-page Bible study guide that helps ladies develop a stronger prayer relationship with the Lord.

Of her 19 published books, Marsha is most excited about the best-selling KEYSTONE STABLES SERIES published by Zonderkidz. These eight girl/horse fiction books delicately deal with issues that face today’s youth, issues such as light drug abuse, foster care, special needs, and the death of a close friend. Through her stories, Marsha conveys the truths that no problem is bigger than God and that He offers salvation as a gift through his Son, Jesus Christ. Girls ten years and older will connect to this series, identifying with the main protagonist, Skye Nicholson, who appears to be as tough as nails. However, on the inside she’s a scared, insecure teen, not quite sure of anything but her own fears until God changes her heart. “My main desire,” Marsha says, “is to see young people helped, most of all spiritually, through their difficult adolescent years as they read my books.”

Marsha and her husband were foster parents from 1975 to 1987, caring for a dozen children in need of a good home. Her hobbies and interests have included horses, softball, volleyball, painting, gardening, pocket billiards, and playing the organ.

In April of 2003, Marsha attended an American Christian Writers’ Conference in Richmond, Virginia, where she was presented the “Writer of the Year” Award. She presently does freelance editing for two publishing companies and has just assumed the directorship of the Montrose Christian Writers Conference, a five-day conference that draws faculty and conferees from all over the United States.

Marsha’s life verse is 1 Corinthians 15:10a: “But by the grace of God I am what I am.…” She stands amazed at what God can do with someone who is willing to serve him at whatever capacity he calls him or her.

Visit Marsha at her website, writers’ tips blog, Facebook, and other social media sites:

www.marshahubler.com

www.marshahubler.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/marsha.hubler.3

Keystone Stables Book 1

What’s Been Happening with my Writing?

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I have submitted two items over the past several months, one to a Kids/Family Devotional magazine, which I never heard anything from and was supposed to have heard something by the middle of this month.  The other to a publisher who is planning a book of inspirational stories, which I am hoping to hear from sometime within the next three weeks.

It’s hard not to get your hopes up and to not think about your submissions, and just keep plugging away.  It’s hardest when you don’t even received acknowledgement that they received your submission, which I am happy to say only happened with the one submission.  The other submission was kind enough to shoot me a quick email to let me know that they had received my submission.  My hope is that they will then email me to let me know either way, if they decide to publish my story or not because a rejection would be better than never knowing anything, at least that’s what I think.

However, I recently sent a query letter to a magazine for an article I want to write for them.  I was expecting to have to write it quickly if they wanted it because it was based on a theme their website said would be in their March or April issue.  I was pleasantly surprised a slightly disappointed when I received a nice email a couple of days later saying that they would like me to submit my article, but that it wouldn’t be considered for publication until 2016!  It seems they have made some changes in their magazine and have decide to publish only 6 times a year, which has quickly filled their article spots for 2015.  I was told that someone from the editorial staff will get back to me in 2-3 months about my submitting the article.  That’s the most positive response I’ve had so far!  So, I remain hopeful.

In the meantime, I continue to write here on my blog, an outline for a story I am planning and a story I am simply writing in my normal “pantsing” style.  I also continue to look for more places and opportunities to submit short pieces.

How about you?  What are you working on in your writing process?  Leave a comment, I’d love to hear about it.

A Disappointing Giveaway and What’s New for the New Year

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I must say that I am stunned!  My giveaway posts earned me some new followers, and to all of you who are now following me, I extend a hearty welcome!  I hope you will find many posts here that you will find enjoyable, inspirational and/or helpful.  However, the requirements for a winner for the giveaway was that people were supposed to leave comments on my giveaway post letting me know how long they have been a follower on this blog and what they would like to see more or less of, and, to my chagrin, the giveaway post received not one single comment.  Therefore, I am disappointed to announce:  the winner is . . . No One!

Maybe it was the books I chose to give away.  Maybe they were too old.  Maybe no one who reads this blog is a fan of Mary Higgins Clark.  Maybe you don’t read Christmas mysteries.  I don’t know what happened, but I never thought that “giving something away” — for free would fail.  But alas, it has.  I will, however, try not to take it personally and will attempt to have another giveaway at a much later date.

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Now for the happier, more positive item — What’s New for the New Year?  Well, I know I did this a couple of weeks before the new year, but my blog has a new look.  I think it’s cleaner, crisper and sharper.  I hope you all like it too!  Also, the photo in my blog header, behind by blog title box, is one I took while we were on vacation on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in October 2014.  I thought it went well with the new look.

Also, if you scroll down the page and look at the things listed on my right sidebar, you will notice a button for BookLook Bloggers.  I have decided that since I love to read so much, and reading and writing go hand-in-hand, AND since I enjoy writing book reviews anyway, that I would join BookLook Bloggers.  I should be receiving my first book soon, so I hope you will look forward to upcoming book reviews here at Kelly F Barr.

I was excited to receive a year-end report from WordPress on my blog.  I don’t believe I received such a report at the end of 2013, so this must be new as well, and I found it very helpful to see what my readers (you) like to read.  I hope to use this information to keep you all reading here.

I was also shocked and thrilled to look at my follower count today.  The last time I was here, my follower count was just under 90, and I was hoping to hit 100 by 2015, and here it is, January 1, 2015, and my follower count now says 198!  I am not sure if that’s due to the fact that I updated some settings and have the blog automatically connected to my other social media sites now, instead of me simply posting links to all of my posts on Facebook and Twitter, or if the follower counter could somehow be wrong.  But, I hope that it’s accurate and that the count continues to climb.  I don’t worry too much about numbers, but I don’t look at my followers as numbers — I look at them as my readers; readers I hope will come to love what I write and spread the word that what I write is worth reading, because, as a writer, my desire is that others would find value in what I write.

In 2015, I will also continue to keep you up-to-date on my writing journey.  In the past month, I have submitted two nonfiction short pieces for consideration; one to a children’s/family devotional magazine and one for possible publication in an upcoming book of inspirational short nonfiction stories.  I will keep you posted on any response I receive for these submissions.  Just having submitted a couple of things makes me feel like a real writer and it motivates me to keep writing.  I have a few more short nonfiction pieces I want to write and submit to other locations soon, and I will certainly keep writing my fiction.

I saw a friend on Monday who asked me if I’m still writing.  I told her that yes, I am, and that, as a matter of fact, I had recently begun submitting things, hoping to gain some recognition and maybe earn a little money for my writing as well.  I was so blessed by the next words that came out of her mouth, “Well, I don’t know why someone wouldn’t pick you up.  You’re good.”  Such words of encouragement are a light to my writer’s soul.

Muse or No Muse

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I have been an active part of the writing world for a little over a year now, and I follow websites/blogs of some Christian and some secular writers, and I have found that the secular writers talk a lot about their “muse”, but I’ve never heard that mentioned in the Christian writer circles.  So, I became curious because I didn’t know what a “muse” was, but it was always referred to as a help to the writer.

Therefore, I looked it up and found that in Greek and Roman mythology muses were each of nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.  (That would explain why Christians don’t consider a muse).  The other definition I found said:  a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

I have been writing ever since I was a child and I never heard of a muse, even before I became a firm believer in Christ.  I do not get help from a “muse” to write my stories.  I have prayed for months over my writing before actually trying to write anything serious, seeking God’s guidance, and when the ideas began to flow, I knew they came from the Lord.  However, as I write, in addition to God’s help, my POV character also helps with the writing a lot. The better I know my POV character, the more that character helps me write the story by sometimes telling me what they want to happen and they’re ideas are usually quite good.

So, I have God and my POV but no muse and I like what I have. It works well for me. What about you? Do you have a muse? And, if so, tell me about it.

NaNoWriMo

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I read the word “NaNoWriMo” for the first time last year as I was becoming a part of the writing world online.  I read more about it and was amazed that so many people would subject themselves to such a challenge, although a part of me thought it might be fun to try.  No, I did not try it last year, nor will I try it this year.  I’m just not ready.  I have just really begun to write again after taking a year to really study the craft and make connections both online and in person.  Maybe I’ll try NaNoWriMo in another year or two.

For me, at this point in time, trying to write 1, 667 words a day (that’s 50,000 words in 30 days, which is the goal of NaNoWriMo) seems overwhelming and stressful.    I do hope to give it my best shot sometime.

By the way, if you don’t know about NaNoWriMo, you can find out more about it by simply googling it.  There is also a NaNoWriMo Twitter page and there are several pages and groups for NaNoWriMo on Facebook.

How about you?  Are you participating in NaNoWriMo?

Some Poetry

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Today, I would like to share three poems that I wrote years ago, that were actually published in anthologies.

The first, I wrote in 1993 as my then fiance and I were getting ready to get married:

Approaching Our Day

With each passing day, the time draws near

For us to pledge ourselves one to the other forever, my dear.

That day will be great —

I can hardly wait!

Then together we will go

Down the long, winding road;

Fulfilling old dreams and building new ones,

Constantly sharing both difficulties and fun.

We’ll share love and support, laughter and tears

As together we grow old through the years.

We’ll climb difficult mountains and race down steep hills

Encouraging each other forever, as we will.

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This next one was written as I watched my grandmother’s memory slip away as her body gave in to Alzheimer’s disease:

Lament of an Alzheimer’s Patient

Many memories, once vivid and bright,

Now fade with the twilight’s last light.

They say it’s an incurable disease;

When I beg someone to help me, please!

I feel frustration, anger, and pain;

As this disease gnaws away at my brain.

I feel lonely, helpless, and lost,

As I ride the sporadic, angry waves, being torn and tossed.

There is nothing left to do now, but pray

And ask God to take all of my pain away.

For God is forever faithful and true;

And in my darkest hour, he’ll see me through.

So now with the rising and setting of each sun;

I turn to the Holy One;

Asking for mercy, strength and love —

I receive these, by God’s grace from above.

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This last one I wrote because I hate what European immigrants (our ancestors) did to the Native American people.  I have a great love for the Native American people, and my great-great grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee Native American that I never had the privilege of knowing.

Tribute to a Lost Nation

Shawnee, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Cherokee, and Crow

These, and many other tribes, freely roamed this land long ago.

They were warriors and hunters with arrow and bows;

For food and clothing, they killed the deer and the antelope.

They loved, respected, and worked this land;

With primitive tools, blood and sweat came from their hands.

They have lost much and no longer proudly stand,

For they have been scattered like grains of sand.

As across this land, the wind blows,

I hear a voice echo;

“Tribes, such as Shawnee, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Cherokee, and Crow

Have all but vanished, like their brother, the buffalo.”

Making Connections

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As I stated in my last post, I did attend the Susquehanna Writer’s Workshop last Saturday.  What a great experience!  But, before I share all about it, let me tell you how I got there:

I joined Lancaster Christian Writers’ Group a little over a year ago and love attending their monthly meetings.  Almost every month they have a guest speaker who teaches on some aspect of writing, publishing or marketing, and then we have time for critique groups.  Critique groups are so helpful because we can share something we have written or are working on and get feedback from a group of writers.  We get constructive criticism as well as praise for the strong points.  If we don’t have anything to share, we can still participate in the critique group to offer our input on someone else’s writing.  I have learned so much just by being a part of these critique groups.

In the spring, Lancaster Christian Writers’,  (LCW), held their annual 1-day Super Saturday event, a Writers’ Conference.  It was the first writers’ conference I ever attended, and I loved it!  I did several posts on it afterward, so I won’t go into all that now.  That is where I met author, Marsha Hubler, who did a workshop at the conference.  I enjoyed the conference so much that when I was home, I booted up the computer and immediately looked up all of the people, authors mostly, I had met at the conference and connected with them on facebook and twitter and I bookmarked their blogs so I could continue to follow them. I found out about Susquehanna Writers’ Workshop through a link on Marsha Hubler’s blog and I immediately signed up.

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I had a beautiful, relaxing two-hour drive to get to the Susquehanna Writers’ Workshop, and when I arrived, I was surprised at how small the group was.  I was also surprised to see that all the attendees were women.  I checked in at the registration table and then perused the display table where there were writing resource books for sale at low prices, books by the workshop speakers and some of the writers in attendance, and some free information pamphlets and fliers with possible places to publish or some possible devotionals to submit to.  There were also a couple of books on the free part of the table and I grabbed up “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul”.

Finally, I approached a table to look for a vacant seat.  I sat down with some very nice, friendly ladies.  After some announcements, we divided into the fiction workshop and the  nonfiction workshop.  Again, I was surprised, as most of the attendees were there for the nonfiction workshop.  I attended the fiction workshop.  There were only five or six of us and Marsha Hubler was our speaker.  The size of the group made things very comfortable and was very conducive to participation.  We had some great discussion and received some wonderful tips from Marsha.

When we first sat down, the lady to my left looked at me and said, “You look very familiar.”  She then asked a couple of questions which led us to the discovery that she had been the children’s pastor at a church we had attended many years ago.  She is now a reading specialist and a writer.  She has two books published already and is working on her third in a series of four.  It was delightful to reconnect with her.  She gave me here business card and I immediately connected to her facebook and twitter accounts and bookmarked her blog.

I also met a sweet lady who was originally from South Carolina and has written quite a bit, but hasn’t had anything published.  She was very interesting and pleasant, and I could kick myself for not asking if she had an email address that we could exchange email addresses to continue to keep in touch and encourage one another.  I don’t remember her last name either, so I can’t even check to see if she has a blog, but I don’t think she does.  I also don’t think she’s on facebook or twitter.  Ugh!

I also met a quiet, young lady who has a great interest in writing, but is also a homeschool mom of three young children.  I can so relate to her, though I didn’t have a lot of time to chat with her.  However, I did find her on twitter, and I found her blog.  Yippee!

Finally, I met an outgoing, wonderfully creative lady who has a fantastic idea for a book she is working on.  I truly hope she continues to press on, because I can’t wait to read her finished book.  She is a bit overwhelmed with the social media thing, which I told her I could understand.  It’s difficult enough to find the time to sit down and work on your actual writing amid the hustle and bustle of real life, but to then also have to have a social media presence is very time consuming.  I gave her some suggestions that I have learned during the past year in hopes of helping and encouraging her.

In case you’re wondering, the tips are:  set a timer for a designated amount of time when you sit down to do social media and when the timer goes off, shut off the social media.  This will help to keep you from having too much time swallowed by social media, which can so easily happen. Another idea, which is what I have decided seems to work best for me, is to simply designate one day a week for social media, and that leaves me five other days to work on my actual writing.  Of course, none of these plans are foolproof nor will they work all of the time because we live real life with its responsibilities, demands and unexpected events.  Also, it is very important to write everyday, as that is how we get better and better at what we do.  I recently read somewhere, and I think it was something Jeff Goins wrote, that you need to write something every day — just take 20 minutes and set a goal of about 200 words, but even if you don’t reach the 200 words, at least write for 20 minutes and just write anything.  If you feel stuck on the story you’re working on, you can just write about your day.  Just write about anything for 20 minutes and before you know it, it will be much easier to write everyday than it will be not to.  (I know I didn’t say that the same way as I read it, but that was the idea).

In closing, I would like to introduce you to one of the ladies I met at Susquehanna Writers’ Conference.  Her name is Kathie Mitchell.  If you have a couple of minutes, hop on over to her blog and read her post from October 8th to find out more about the book she is working on.  You’ll find her at:  http://countrygrandmother.wordpress.com/

New Beginnings

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It’s nice to be back here again.  I have missed writing here, but life has a way of throwing curves at you sometimes that cause you to change your priorities, at least for a season.  You all know that my family went through a lot of difficulties this summer with the complications that arose through mom’s heart surgery.  Well, when all of that began to settle down, my oldest son injured his leg and required crutches followed by a leg brace and physical therapy for about six weeks.  On his last day of physical therapy, my husband informed me that he is experiencing hip pain and problems from an old injury and today he begins physical therapy, and then last week, I ended up in the ER, for most of one night, with severe abdominal pains.  After some testing, it was determined that I have gall stones and am now on a very strict diet and am scheduled to see a surgeon on October 28th, with the plan of having my gall bladder removed.  However, I have some dear friends who have suggested that I see a naturopathic doctor before having surgery, so I will be seeing her on Tuesday.

I would love to be able to have the problem solved without surgery, if at all possible, but I don’t really know much about naturopathy.  It will definitely be something to learn about and to pray for God’s guidance in deciding which path to follow.

Now, to the topic I try to reserve this blog for, my writing.  Through all of these challenges I have not given up on my writing, even though I have been absent here.  I have been doing A LOT of reading and paying close attention to how authors handle Point of View (POV), as this is an area I have struggled with.  It has become quite clear to me how to handle it so as to have my writing clear and easy to follow.  Another thing that I have recently read is Outlining Your Story by K.M. Weiland.  I have always been a “pantser”  (someone who writes by the seat of their pants), not an outliner because I felt that outlining is detrimental to my creativity.  I was afraid that if I outlined, everything would turn too mechanical and would lose the creativity and emotions so critical to good stories.  However, I have recently felt that maybe there is a way to outline that won’t jeopardize my creativity, so I picked up K.M. Weiland’s Outlining Your Story in hopes of finding a way to do just that, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed.  I devoured this book and took copious notes because she explained how to use an outline to great advantage and to do so without losing your creativity.  In fact, it could very well aid in your creativity.  This book was a blessing for me, especially as she gave specific examples of outlines that could be helpful to visual learners, which I definitely am.  I look forward to start working on an outline for a story very soon, especially as I have just finished a fiction story I was reading, as well.  I don’t feel like I can read a story and work on one at the same time, at least not in the beginning stages.

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Another exciting thing that happened to get my writing brain geared up again is that I am currently teaching a writing class to 3rd through 5th grade students at our homeschool co-op, and I remembered a game I had purchased years ago to help teach my oldest son about story writing when he was about the same age.  I thought it was in the attic, so I asked my husband to help me look for it.  So, that Saturday, we went to the attic and my husband searched through several boxes, to no avail.

However, he did find a box we had put up there about three years ago that we labeled “Kelly’s Writing Stuff”.  I asked him to bring it down, and when he did, I spent the next hour just looking through that box.  It was fantastic!  In the box I found several stories that I had started, in the past, but never finished, as well as ideas for other stories and all of my poetry.  I was so excited!  I had been praying that God would give me my creativity back because I was feeling as though I had lost it during the struggles, and here was a good start on God’s answer to that prayer!

Oh, and by the way, last night, as I was looking for a specific notebook of mine, I found the game I had asked my husband to look for in the attic!

Two weeks ago on a Saturday, the monthly writers’ group that I attend began their new season (they take a break for July and August), and learned some helpful tips on finding time to write, as well as learning to distinguish between goals and desires and whether or not my writing goals are realistic and measurable.  Very helpful stuff!  I am so thankful to have found this writers’ group and am blessed to be starting my second year of participating with them.

This Saturday, I will also be attending a Writers’ Workshop and am excited to do so and to learn more.  I’m sure I’ll come home all fired up for writing a great story!

Have You Ever Welcomed the Darkness?

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     Here I am in the darkness again.  It’s become such a familiar place that today I feel comfortable here and don’t want to leave.  To leave would mean to go out into the light, and the light is where my pain comes from.  It’s what drives me to the darkness.

     I haven’t been this far into the darkness for a long time; to the place where I want to be left all alone; to the place where I am emotionally exhausted.  I take refuge in my room, but envision myself sitting alone in a dark corner of a cave.  It’s cold in here, but I feel safe, away from all the hands.

     The hands are in the light, always reaching for me — wanting.  They always want me to give:  time, attention, love; things from deep within me, but they don’t give much back in return and sooner or later, I end up here in the darkness, emotionally exhausted.

     I try to explain to them, two in particular, that they are hurting me.  I try to encourage them to look beyond themselves but my words seem to bounce right off, not getting through, having no effect.  Even my tears find no softness, apologies or compassion.

     I have cried out to God, begging and pleading with Him to open their eyes and hearts, to draw them to Himself, that they could learn to love each other, many times in the past.  I know He has heard every word, but even He chooses to do nothing.

     So, today, I didn’t even bother to pray.  I couldn’t find the strength or desire to send up another prayer for two hardened hearts.

     My heart is broken and, I suspect, the many tears I have shed will be followed by many more, and I am sure I will revisit this dark place of comfort again.

     Though I wish I could remain here, alone in the darkness a while longer, I will dig deep within, to the vast reserves of strength I believe the Lord placed within me a long time ago, and go forth to the light, and those groping hands, because I love them all with the love of the Lord and will continue to do so until the very last drop of that reserve strength is gone.

What About Happy Endings?

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  Does everything you write have a happy ending?  Do you think everything should have a happy ending?

A couple of years ago, I wanted to teach a class based on the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, and a couple of moms said, “Do you know how that story ends?  It doesn’t have a happy ending?” 

Before I could respond, one of the co-op leaders responded, “Life doesn’t always have a happy ending, and that book is about a time in history that didn’t really have a happy ending.”  (And they let me teach the class.)

That is one example of why some writing just can’t have a happy ending.  If it’s based on something historical and that historical event didn’t have a happy ending, you simply can’t have a happy ending.  Does that mean that what you write isn’t good or worth reading?  Absolutely not.  I found The Boy in the Striped Pajamas to be very well-written, and it was moving and thought-provoking.

It’s okay to write something sad.  What we write should be realistic and believable, even if it’s fiction, and since life is not always happy and doesn’t always have a happy ending, not all of our writing should or can have happy endings either.  We simply have to accept the fact that, when we write something that doesn’t have a happy ending, it won’t appeal to people who prefer to read only those writings with happy endings, but then, nothing any of us write will appeal to everyone anyway, but everything we write will most likely appeal to someone, and, if we are blessed, it will appeal to lots of someones.

So, if you are contemplating writing something that will not have a happy ending, and have been hesitating, stop hesitating and start writing.  Someone out there may just need to read whatever it is you’re contemplating.  There are plenty of people in the world going through difficulties, struggles, sad times, and it can make them feel better and less alone to know that someone else out there feels the same way, or can, at least, relate to them.